Collapsible feeder

ABSTRACT

A deer feeder includes an upper enclosure, a collapsible middle sleeve, a bottom enclosure, and a feed distribution mechanism. At least three support members may be attached to the upper enclosure for holding the deer feeder in a vertical position. The upper enclosure, collapsible middle sleeve, and bottom enclosure may form a feed storage area that is rainproof. The feed storage area may be made rainproof by attaching a top opening of the collapsible middle sleeve to an inner wall of the upper enclosure and a bottom opening of the collapsible middle sleeve to an outer wall of the bottom enclosure. The feed distribution mechanism may include an auger for removing feed from the feed storage area and/or a centrifugal force mechanism for dispersing feed around the deer feeder.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application is a Divisional Application of U.S. Ser. No.14/529,022, filed Oct. 30, 2014, which claims priority to provisionalpatent application U.S. Ser. No. 61/898,940 filed Nov. 1, 2013. Thesubject matter of each is incorporated herein by reference in entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates in general to a feeder and, more particularly, toa deer feeder that is collapsible, thereby reducing its size andimproving its portability.

BACKGROUND

Deer feeders may be used to attract wild game, such as moose, elk, anddeer, to a known hunting location. Feed is stored within a feed storagearea of the deer feeder and then dispersed within the hunting location.

Deer feeders with small feed storage areas are easier to transport froma manufacturer to a distributor, from a distributor to an end user, andfrom the end user to the hunting location. However, deer feeders withsmall feed storage areas do not hold as much feed and require morefrequent feed replacement.

On the other hand, deer feeders with large feed storage areas allow fora greater amount of feed to be stored and dispersed over longer periodsof time, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the deer feeder andrequiring less frequent feed replacement. However, deer feeders with alarge feed storage area are much more difficult to transport.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The disclosure relates in general to deer feeders and, moreparticularly, to a deer feeder that is collapsible. The deer feeder inthe open or extended state has a large feed storage area, while the samedeer feeder in the collapsed state is easy to transport.

In an example embodiment, a deer feeder may include an upper enclosure,a collapsible sleeve, a bottom enclosure, and a feed distributionmechanism. In this embodiment, the collapsible sleeve has a top openingwhich is connected to the upper enclosure and a bottom opening which isconnected to the bottom enclosure. The upper enclosure, the collapsiblesleeve, and the bottom enclosure preferably form a feed storage areathat is rainproof.

Various methods may be used to hold the deer feeder in a verticalposition. As non-limiting examples, the deer feeder may be attached to atree, hung from a tree branch, or three or four support members may beattached to the upper enclosure. This allows the collapsible sleeve tofully open or extend by the force of gravity, thereby forming a largefeed storage area within the deer feeder.

In a preferred embodiment, the feed distribution mechanism may includean auger for removing feed from the feed storage area and/or acentrifugal force mechanism for distributing feed from the feed storagearea to a selected hunting location around the deer feeder. Gravity maybe used to move the feed to the bottom of the feed storage area.

In another preferred embodiment, the top opening of the sleeve may beconnected to an inner wall of the top enclosure and the bottom openingof the sleeve may be connected to an outer wall of the bottom enclosureto create a rainproof feed storage area.

The deer feeder may be easily transported by collapsing the sleeve ofthe deer feeder to reduce the size of the deer feeder. In the collapsedstate, the deer feeder may then be easily transported to a desiredlocation. For example, a hunter may transport the deer feeder to aselected hunting location with the sleeve collapsed and then expand thecollapsible sleeve of the deer feeder at the selected hunting locationto increase the size of the feed storage area within the deer feederduring actual use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a deer feeder with a collapsible sleeve and support threemembers holding the deer feeder in a vertical position, with thecollapsible sleeve not collapsed, i.e., the collapsible sleeve is in anopen or extended position.

FIG. 2 shows a deer feeder upside down with the collapsible sleevecollapsed, i.e., the collapsible sleeve is in a closed or compressedposition making it easier to store and/or transport.

FIG. 3 shows a removable cover and an attachment apparatus, which may becomponents of an upper enclosure shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows part of a collapsible sleeve, a bottom enclosure, amechanism for attaching the collapsible sleeve to the bottom enclosure,and a feed distribution mechanism.

FIG. 5 shows a view looking down into a feed storage area of the deerfeeder.

FIG. 6 shows an example apparatus for connecting an upper enclosure witha collapsible sleeve.

FIG. 7 shows an example apparatus for connecting a collapsible sleevewith a bottom enclosure.

FIG. 8 shows an example apparatus for connecting a collapsible sleevewith a bottom enclosure.

FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of one possible method of practicing thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart for another possible method of practicing thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure relates in general to feeders and, more particularly, toa deer feeder that may be 1) collapsed (shown in FIG. 2) to improve itsportability or 2) extended (shown in FIG. 1) to create a large feedstorage area 500 (shown in FIG. 5). A deer feeder 100 may include anupper enclosure 105, a collapsible sleeve 150, a bottom enclosure 180,and a feed distribution mechanism 200. The upper enclosure 105, thecollapsible sleeve 150, and the bottom enclosure 180 may form arainproof feed storage area 500 for storing feed. A rainproof feedstorage area 500 prevents water from entering the feed storage area 500and spoiling the feed.

The upper enclosure 105 may be generally shaped as a circular disk orbowl and form a lid to feeder 100. The upper enclosure 105 may have asmooth inner wall that may be used to make a water tight seal with a topopening of the collapsible sleeve 150.

The upper enclosure 105 may be made of any material, but can be made of,as non-limiting examples, plastic, fiberglass, graphite, PVC, wood,metal, or any combination thereof. The materials used for the upperenclosure are preferably strong, light weight and rainproof.

The upper enclosure 105 may be constructed from one or more elements. Asshown in FIG. 3, and as a non-limiting example, the upper enclosure 105may include a generally cylindrically shaped ring section 130 (not shownin FIG. 3), a removable cover 110, and an attachment apparatus 120 (suchas a clamp) for connecting the cylindrically shaped ring section 130 andthe removable cover no. This configuration allows the removable cover noto be removed from the deer feeder 100 to add feed to a feed storagearea 500 or the removable cover no may be attached to the deer feeder100 to make the feed storage area 500 rainproof.

The upper enclosure 105 may have one or more attachments that permit thedeer feeder 100 to be attached to a tree or hung from a branch of atree. Alternatively, or in addition, the upper enclosure 105 may have anumber of receptacles 140 to receive support members 170 to hold thedeer feeder 100 in a vertical position during use (this configuration isshown in FIG. 1).

The collapsible sleeve 150 may be generally shaped as a hollow cylinderor tube made from any collapsible, foldable, or compressible material,and can be made of, as non-limiting examples, tarpaulin (tarp), canvas,cloth, rubber, or any other durable collapsible, foldable orcompressible material. In a preferred embodiment, the collapsible sleeve150 is made of a material that is easily cleanable so that, after use,the feed storage area may be easily cleaned with a water hose.

In some embodiments, the collapsible sleeve 150 may be tapered so thatthe top opening is larger than the bottom opening of the collapsiblesleeve 150. This embodiment helps direct the feed to the center of thebottom enclosure 180 right above the feed distribution mechanism 200. Inother embodiments, the collapsible sleeve 150 has vertical walls with notaper. This embodiment helps to prevent feed from getting stuck to theinside walls of the collapsible sleeve 150.

Alternatively, the collapsible sleeve 150 may be made of a plurality ofinterlocking collapsible rings that may be telescoped into either acompressed mode (collapsed) or a fully extended mode that would increasethe size of the feed storage area 500.

The collapsible sleeve 150 preferably has a top opening sealed to asmooth inner wall of the upper enclosure 105 and a bottom opening sealedto a smooth outer wall of the bottom enclosure 180. The collapsiblesleeve 150 may be connected to the upper enclosure 105 and the bottomenclosure 180 by any method now known or developed in the future. Asspecific non-limiting examples, the upper seal 160 may be made usingglue, adhesives, sonic welding, rivets, clamps, or any other method forattaching one material to another material. In a preferred embodiment,the upper seal 160 is a water tight seal. A water tight upper seal 160between the collapsible sleeve 150 and the upper enclosure 105 and awater tight bottom seal 190 between the collapsible sleeve 150 and thebottom enclosure 180 has the benefit of making the feed storage area 500rainproof.

FIG. 6 is a cross section view that illustrates a non-limiting exampleof a top secure connection 600 for connecting an upper enclosure 105with a collapsible sleeve 150. In this embodiment, the top secureconnection 600 may be made between the upper enclosure 105 and thecollapsible sleeve 150. The collapsible sleeve 150 may be folded over oraround a top round bar 601. The top secure connection 600 preferablyextends over top round bar 601 to prevent leaks between the top secureconnection 600 and the collapsible sleeve 150. The top round bar 601 maybe made of any material, such as a metal, strong enough to support theweight of the feed in the feed storage area 500. The collapsible sleeve150 may be sewn to itself with weld to make a watertight seal around thetop round bar 601. A top flat bar ring 604, preferably facing inward,may be used to press and hold the collapsible sleeve 150 and/or the topround bar 601 in place against the secure connection 600 with aplurality of connection devices 603 (preferably screws). Connectiondevices 602 (preferably screws) may be used to connect the upperenclosure 105 with the top secure connection 600. This embodiment mayallow the collapsible sleeve 150 to evenly pull down all the way aroundon the top round bar 601 which is held in place by the top flat bar ring604. The top round bar 601 may support and evenly distribute the weightall the way around the collapsible sleeve 150, thereby reducing themaximum stress put on any one point on the collapsible sleeve 150. Thismay prevent the collapsible sleeve 150 from tearing.

The bottom enclosure 180 may be generally shaped as a circular disk orbowl and may be a base member. The bottom enclosure 180 preferably has asmooth outer wall that may be used to make a water tight seal with thebottom opening of the collapsible sleeve 150.

The bottom enclosure 180 may be made of any material, but is preferablymade of, as non-limiting examples, plastic, fiberglass, graphite, PVC,wood, metal, or any combination thereof. The bottom enclosure 180 mayinclude a hole or access port 210 that allows feed from the feed storagearea 500 to travel to the feed distribution mechanism 200.

While the deer feeder 100 is not limited to any particular size, in apreferred embodiment the upper enclosure 105, collapsible sleeve 150,and bottom enclosure 180 are all about the same diameter and between sixinches and three feet in diameter.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are a cross section view that illustrate a non-limitingexample of a bottom secure connection 700 for connecting a collapsiblesleeve 150 with a bottom enclosure 180. In this embodiment, the bottomsecure connection 700 may be made between the collapsible sleeve 150 andthe bottom enclosure 180. The collapsible sleeve 150 may be folded overor around a bottom round bar 701. The bottom secure connection 700preferably has a seal 705 to prevent leaks between the collapsiblesleeve 150 and the bottom enclosure 180. The bottom round bar 701 may bemade of any material, such as a metal, strong enough to support theweight of the feed in the feed storage area 500. The collapsible sleeve150 may be sewn to itself with weld to make a watertight seal around thebottom round bar 701. A bottom flat bar ring 704, preferably facingoutward, may be used to press and hold the collapsible sleeve 150 and/orthe bottom round bar 701 in place against the bottom secure connection700 with a plurality of connection devices 702. Connection devices 703may be used to connect bottom enclosure 180 with seal 705 andcollapsible sleeve 150. This embodiment may allow the collapsible sleeve150 to evenly pull up all the way around the bottom round bar 701 whichis held in place by the bottom flat bar ring 704. The bottom round bar701 may support and evenly distribute the weigh all the way around thecollapsible sleeve 150, thereby reducing the maximum stress put on anyone point on the collapsible sleeve 150. This may prevent thecollapsible sleeve 150 from tearing. FIG. 8 illustrates how a bottomwasher 800 may be used to distribute the weight to prevent connectiondevices 703 from tearing through the bottom enclosure 180 or the bottomsecure connection 700.

As shown in FIG. 4, a feed distribution mechanism 200 may be attached tothe bottom enclosure 180. The feed distribution mechanism 200 may removeor receive feed from the feed storage area 500 through the hole oraccess port 210 in the bottom enclosure 180 and distribute the feed tothe area around the deer feeder 100. In a preferred embodiment, the feeddistribution mechanism 200 includes an auger 220 for extracting feedfrom the feed storage area 500 and/or a centrifugal force mechanism 230for distributing the feed around the deer feeder 100. Gravity may alsobe used to move the feed from the feed storage area 500 to the feeddistribution mechanism 200.

A method for practicing the invention is shown in FIG. 9. The deerfeeder 100 as described above has the advantage of being able tocollapse the collapsible sleeve 150 thereby making the deer feeder 100much smaller than the deer feeder 100 would be without a collapsiblesleeve 150 (a upside-down deer feeder 100 with the collapsible sleevecollapsed is shown in FIG. 2). (Step 900)

Collapsing the collapsible sleeve 150 significantly increases theportability of the deer feeder 100 and reduces shipping costs from themanufacturer to the distributor, thereby making the deer feeder 100cheaper to transport. It also makes it easier for the distributor todisplay the deer feeder 100 and for the end user to transport the deerfeeder 100 from the distributor to the end user's home. In addition, thesmaller size also makes it easier for the end user to transport the deerfeeder 100 from the end user's home to a desired hunting location. Thisis particularly advantageous as the end user may have to carry, eitherby hand or by an all terrain vehicle, the deer feeder 100 to the desiredhunting location. (Step 901)

Another method for practicing the invention is shown in FIG. 10. Thismethod adds the additional step of once the end user has moved the deerfeeder 100 to the desired hunting location, the end user may mount thedeer feeder 100 in a vertical position so that the collapsible sleeve150 is fully extended, i.e., not collapsed (as shown in FIG. 1). (Step1000) The deer feeder 100 may be mounted to a tree, hung from a branchof a tree, or support members 170 may be attached to the upper enclosure105 of the deer feeder 100 to position the deer feeder 100 in a verticalposition. Once the deer feeder 100 is in a vertical position, gravitywill pull the collapsible sleeve 150 to an extended, i.e., openposition, thereby increasing the size of the feed storage area 500within the deer feeder 100. Once the collapsible sleeve 150 is in theextended or opened position, feed may be added to the feed storage area500.

Although the present invention has been described with respect topreferred embodiment(s), any person skilled in the art will recognizethat changes may be made in form and detail, and equivalents may besubstituted for elements of the invention without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. As an example, while the inventionhas been referred to as a deer feeder 100 used by a hunter, theinvention may also be used with any type of wild game or livestock andby a rancher or any other person who wishes to attract game or livestockto a selected area. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not belimited to the particular embodiments disclosed for carrying out thisinvention, but will include all embodiments falling within the scope ofthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for transporting a deer feeder,comprising: collapsing a collapsible sleeve of a deer feeder to reducethe size of the deer feeder; the deer feeder comprising: an upperenclosure; the collapsible sleeve having a top opening at an upperportion thereof and a bottom opening at a bottom portion thereof; abottom enclosure comprising an access port; wherein the upper enclosure,the collapsible sleeve and the bottom enclosure form a feed storage areafor storing feed therein, wherein the collapsible sleeve is positionedbetween the upper enclosure and the bottom enclosure such that thecollapsible sleeve, at the upper portion thereof, is connected to theupper enclosure and the collapsible sleeve, at the bottom portionthereof, is connected to the bottom enclosure; an upper couplerconstructed and arranged to connect the upper enclosure with thecollapsible sleeve, the upper coupler constructed and arranged tosupport the weight of the feed in the feed storage area; one or moreconnector structures constructed and arranged to be attached to theupper enclosure and to support the deer feeder in a vertical positionduring use; and feed distribution mechanism attached to the bottomenclosure, wherein the feed distribution mechanism is constructed andarranged to receive the feed from the feed storage area through theaccess port of the bottom enclosure and distribute the feed from thefeed storage area to an area around the deer feeder; and transportingthe deer feeder to a desired location.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinthe top opening of the collapsible sleeve is attached to an inner wallof the upper enclosure using an upper seal member to form a watertightupper connection between the upper enclosure and collapsible sleeve. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the bottom opening of the collapsiblesleeve is attached to an outer wall of the bottom enclosure using alower seal member to form a watertight lower connection between thebottom enclosure and collapsible sleeve.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the upper enclosure, the collapsible sleeve, and the bottomenclosure form the feed storage area that is rainproof.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising expanding the collapsible sleeve of the deerfeeder to increase the size of the feed storage area.
 6. A deer feeder,comprising: an upper enclosure; a collapsible sleeve having a topopening at an upper portion thereof and a bottom opening at a bottomportion thereof; a bottom enclosure comprising an access port; whereinthe upper enclosure, the collapsible sleeve and the bottom enclosureform a feed storage area for storing feed therein, wherein thecollapsible sleeve is positioned between the upper enclosure and thebottom enclosure such that the collapsible sleeve, at the upper portionthereof, is connected to the upper enclosure and the collapsible sleeve,at the bottom portion thereof, is connected to the bottom enclosure; anupper coupler constructed and arranged to connect the upper enclosurewith the collapsible sleeve, the upper coupler constructed and arrangedto support the weight of the feed in the feed storage area; one or moreconnector structures constructed and arranged to be attached to theupper enclosure and to support the deer feeder in a vertical positionduring use; and a feed distribution mechanism attached to the bottomenclosure, wherein the feed distribution mechanism is constructed andarranged to receive the feed from the feed storage area through theaccess port of the bottom enclosure and distribute the feed from thefeed storage area to an area around the deer feeder.
 7. The deer feederof claim 6, wherein the collapsible sleeve, at the upper portionthereof, is attached to an inner wall of the upper enclosure using anupper seal member.
 8. The deer feeder of claim 7, wherein the upper sealmember is constructed and arranged to provide a water tight sealconnection between the collapsible sleeve and the upper enclosure. 9.The deer feeder of claim 6, wherein the collapsible sleeve, at thebottom portion thereof, is attached to an outer wall of the bottomenclosure using a lower seal member.
 10. The deer feeder of claim 9,wherein the lower seal member is constructed and arranged to provide awater tight seal connection between the collapsible sleeve and thebottom enclosure.
 11. The deer feeder of claim 6, further comprising aremovable cover, wherein the removable cover is constructed and arrangedto be removably connected to the upper enclosure such that the removablecover is removed from the deer feeder to add feed to the feed storagearea and the removable cover is connected to the deer feeder to make thefeed storage area substantially water proof.
 12. The deer feeder ofclaim 11, wherein the removable cover is constructed and arranged to beremovably connected to the upper enclosure using an attachment member.13. The deer feeder of claim 12, wherein the attachment member is aclamp.
 14. The deer feeder of claim 6, wherein the upper couplercomprises an upper support member, wherein the collapsible sleeve, atthe upper portion thereof, is folded over the upper support member andinto the feed storage area and the collapsible sleeve is attached toitself inside the feed storage area, and wherein the upper supportmember is constructed and arranged to support the weight of the feed inthe feed storage area.
 15. The deer feeder of claim 14, wherein theupper coupler further comprises an upper holder member constructed andarranged to hold the collapsible sleeve and the upper support member inplace, and wherein the upper coupler also comprises one or more upperconnection members constructed and arranged to connect the collapsiblesleeve and the upper enclosure.
 16. The deer feeder of claim 6, furthercomprising a bottom coupler constructed and arranged to connect thebottom enclosure with the collapsible sleeve, wherein the bottom couplercomprises a bottom support member, wherein the collapsible sleeve, atthe bottom portion thereof, is folded over the bottom support member andthe collapsible sleeve is attached to itself outside the feed storagearea, and wherein the bottom support member is constructed and arrangedto support the weight of the feed in the feed storage area.
 17. The deerfeeder of claim 16, wherein the bottom coupler further comprises abottom holder member constructed and arranged to hold the collapsiblesleeve and the bottom support member in place, and wherein the bottomcoupler also comprises one or more bottom connection members constructedand arranged to connect the collapsible sleeve and the bottom enclosure.18. The deer feeder of claim 16, wherein the bottom coupler furthercomprises a bottom seal member constructed and arranged to be connectedwith the collapsible sleeve and the bottom enclosure.
 19. The deerfeeder of claim 6, wherein the access port of the bottom enclosure isconstructed and arranged to allow feed from the feed storage area totravel to the feed distribution mechanism.
 20. The deer feeder of claim6, wherein the one or more connector structures are constructed andarranged to engage with one or more corresponding support members tohold the deer feeder in the vertical position during use.
 21. The deerfeeder of claim 6, wherein the feed distribution mechanism comprises anauger for extracting the feed from the feed storage area and/or acentrifugal force mechanism constructed and arranged to distribute thefeed around the deer feeder.